Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Interested in growing your own bonsai? The first step is to choose the right type of plant.Baby jade is a succulent bonsai that is also known as the Elephant Plant, Elephant Bush, or Small Leaf Jade. It is native to South Africa and makes an excellent bonsai for the home or office. It has thick pale-green leaves that are almost round. Water is stored in the fleshy branches, trunk, and leaves.

In natural environs the baby jade grows up to 3 or 4 meters in height. It is a newer specimen to be used for bonsai and is a good plant for beginners, because of its ability to survive for long periods of time without any water. It grow very quickly and can be adapted to any style.

When young, its bark is green, but then it can turn from reddish brown to slate gray. It is smooth and shows leaf scars conspicuously. Its fleshy leaves are almost circular and are about 1.5 cm in diameter. They vary in color from pale gray to pale gray-blue-green to dark green. The stems are reddish, and each pair of leaves is at a right angles to the next pair. The small pink to purplish flowers are star-shaped.

Baby jade can be grown outdoors in full sunlight or indoors with good lighting. It is a tropical plant and can withstand a variety of growing conditions, though it needs to be protected when the temperature drops below 50 F.

The soil needs to be almost dry before you water it. The trunk and branches have a tendency to droop from their own weight and are lovely for long cascades.

Drastic cuts can be made when styling this plant. Let the soil dry completely before removing heavy branches or roots. Water the plant sparingly until it recovers. Remove the terminal bud from any branch that you want to keep from growing any longer. You can shape the tree by pinching off buds and branches that are not growing where you want them to. This plant grows fast and needs to be pinched back frequently in the growing season.

When creating a small bonsai (mame), you can use 1 mm aluminum wire to rotate leaves and branches, though wiring is not as effective as it is with hard-wood species.

Spring is the best time to re-pot, though it can be accomplished at any time in the tropics. The soil needs to be fully dry before re-potting is done. The plant then needs to be kept in a shady spot until new growth appears again. Once new growth appears it can be watered again.

Monday, November 3, 2008

The Chinese were the first people who grow bonsai plants. Later on it spread to Japan and Korea before Western countries started learning the technique. There are many types of trees that can be made into bonsai and you need to know them if you want to grow bonsai. After you identify the tree that will be made into bonsai, there are certain monitoring and caring techniques that should be implemented to keep the tree grows healthily.

In general, the main purpose of many people in growing bonsai trees is to decorate their house and garden. Bonsai basically has the same characteristics as the ordinary trees, while the main difference is obviously its size. There is certain knowledge and experience that you should have to grow bonsai because the way to grow bonsai is not the same as growing ordinary trees.

Many people are afraid to grow bonsai trees because they think that it is a challenging thing to do. It is true that growing bonsai is not walking in the park activity, but there are certain steps that you can follow. When you understand these steps and have sufficient experience, you will realize that growing bonsai is fun and relaxing. If you still feel uncomfortable, then you should start with beginner bonsai trees to practice and gain experience. Do not be afraid to make mistakes because bonsai making is an art and you will learn from those mistakes.

For beginner bonsai trees, you may want to try growing juniper bonsai. This tree is easy to grow and train, but also has a pleasant appearance. Another alternative is the Japanese maple. You can get these trees from nurseries or buy online. It is better if you buy from nurseries so you can check and be sure of the condition of the tree. If you select a healthy plant in the beginning, you will decrease a lot of problems in the future.

Activities in growing bonsai

There are several activities that you should be aware of in growing bonsai trees. The first is that you should repot the tree every one or two years, preferably during early spring. Potting compost with a mix of sand or grit should be ready at hand to replace the soil. During repotting, it is a good idea to prune the roots of the tree as well. Bonsai grows in a small pot and over time the roots can become compacted inside the small pot. Therefore, you should prune these roots to release the pressure and also to keep the tree small.

Proper watering is another key activity in growing bonsai. The soil of most bonsai trees has to be kept moist all the time because dry soil will kill the bonsai easily. However, too much water is also harmful because it can rot the roots and kill the plant. Finding the balance is essential in this case. In addition, bonsai pots should have sufficient number of drain holes so water can drain properly.

Bonsai also needs sufficient amount of sunlight to grow properly. It is recommended that it receives three to six hours of sunlight everyday. The last activity that you should know is pruning the crown of the bonsai. The main attractiveness of a bonsai is its appearance and thus you should maintain its beautiful appearance by pruning the crown regularly. This pruning is also important to restrict the growth of the tree.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

Rapidly growing and responsive to training, you can quickly see the fruits of your labor when taking care of a Juniper Bonsai. This non-flowering and evergreen conifer have long, sprawling branches that can easily be styled to almost anything except the broom.

Considered as one of the most popular forms of bonsai, the Juniper has numerous varieties which include the Japanese Garden Junipers, Shimpaku, Chinese Junipers, Green Mound, just to name a few. Easy to manage, the Juniper can both grow indoors and outdoors, but it must be kept outside during winter for it to experience the dormant stage. By following this guide of proper care for Junipers, your tree will flourish and will not experience any difficulty while growing.

• Water your Juniper like most bonsai. Before watering your plant, check the soil by sticking your finger about half an each in the soil or if it is on a rock, lift it and feel the soil under it. If the soil is still moist, limit the amount of water that you'll pour on your bonsai to prevent root rotting. It is a general rule to never let you bonsai go dry for a long time. Although there are bonsai that prefer short dry periods, keeping your bonsai dry for extended periods will surely kill your plant. When watering your bonsai, allow the soil to absorb the water first before pouring another one. Eventually, you will soon be able to determine a schedule depending on the climate of your area.

• It is also important to use fertilizer on your Juniper. Use organic liquid fertilizer and feed your plant once every two weeks during spring and fall. A chemical fertilizer can also be used but it should be diluted. Follow the instructions given by the manufacturer.

• Your Juniper should be repotted every two years when it is still young or about 5-6 years old then every 3-5 years thereafter. Although it can be repotted in any time of the year, the best time is during spring or fall. After repotting place it in a cool and shady area and give liberal amounts of water until new roots appear.

• Provide it also with proper winter care by keeping it under cool temperatures usually under 600F to allow it to rest. Avoid exposing it to dry winds and extreme cold temperatures by using window wells, mulch beds or enclosed unheated rooms.

Following these instructions properly will help maintain your Juniper bonsai healthy and always beautiful. Read more about Juniper bonsai and have fun with your plant.

Sunday, October 5, 2008

By:Thomas T Growing your own indoor bonsai plant is not too hard, once you understand the basic concept of the unique technique used to cultivate these trees. The aim of growing the bonsai tree is to recreate the appearance of a natural tree, in a miniature form.

The Indoor bonsai tree is slightly more difficult to grow than the outdoor type. Essentially, in their natural state, trees are grown outdoors. For this reason, when you are growing an indoor tree, there will be more challenges. To successfully grow the indoor bonsai tree, you must pay special attention to the tree’s environment, including soil, water and light.

There are a lot of different types of trees, and each one of these require their own type of unique care. Though there are many species of the plant, these trees can be placed into three categories. There is the tropical, the sub-tropical, and the temperate bonsai.

From these categories, the tree is then divided again into two sub-categories; those that lose their leaves during the fall and winter, and the indoor bonsai tree that keeps its leaves throughout the entire year.

One of the most important aspects to growing the indoor bonsai tree is light. You will need to ensure that your tree has adequate light at all times. An alternative to natural lighting for your indoor trees is fluorescent lighting. Fluorescent lighting does not give off heat like traditional lights do; therefore it will not dry out your tree.

When using artificial lighting, you will need to adjust the amount of time the lighting is turned on to simulate the natural changing of the seasons. For instance, in the fall you will want to reduce the amount of time the lighting is on, reducing it even more for winter. As spring and summer approaches, you will again, gradually increase the time the lighting is on.

Other important considerations of growing the indoor bonsai tree include, paying attention to the type of soil that you use, as well as watering, and pruning. If you plant your tree in fertile soil, you will likely not have to add additional fertilizer for three or four weeks. Watering should be done according to the type of plant that you are growing, but generally, you will want to keep the tree fairly moist through the spring and summer, but can slightly reduce the water during the fall and winter months.

Before you attempt to grow your own indoor bonsai tree, learn as much as you can about the type of tree you intend to grow. If you start out knowing what you need to do to be successful, your chances of growing the perfect bonsai tree will be much better.

Saturday, September 20, 2008

Bonsai have a tendency to decay and are susceptible to damages. For this reason, you must learn all the rules about treating the plant for pests and diseases. This requires you to be versed in recognizing the symptoms of an endangered plant. Decay and damage comes from lack of care, as well as from red spider mites, scale insects, and mealy bugs, aphids, which include the greenfly, gall aphid, and the black fly. Wooly aphids also attack bonsai as well as goat moth, leopard moth, geometer moths, small ermine moths, etc.

Spider mites include the web-forming tetranychus and the glasshouse reds. The greenhouse mites and the red spiders often feast at the underside of bonsai or other plants, especially at the leaves. The spider mites and greenhouse will chew at the foliage as well. If the spiders or mites gnaw at the leaves, you will notice marks, patterns, or irregular patterns, which turn yellow, or silver-gray. It depends on how severe the pests have attacked the bonsai. The tree may fade away if you do not treat immediately. The web-formers create webs, which you will find on the trees. To eliminate the problem and save your bonsai spray the plant/foliage with insecticides. You need to spray the undersides. Use acaricides immediately if you notice mild symptoms. You can use defensive action at the start of spring, otherwise use a selection of acaricides so that the pests do not adapt to the chemicals.

Red mites or the red spiders will feast on needles. This will cause the needles to show signs of damage. The plant will change from its natural color, changing to reddish-brown, yellow, etc. The needles will finally fall off the plant if you do not treat. The spiders will produce a matted web between the branches. This will cause the carbohydrates to slow production, since light and chlorophyll is reduced, i.e. the process of plants ability to produce basic carbohydrates produced from carbon dioxide, hydrogen, etc are reduced. The plant will not have the energy produced from photosynthesis processes to continue its growth and produce macrobiotic cellular pigments that absorb from radiant sources.

To treat your bonsai you will need to consider the plants. If you produce conifer and deciduous trees you can wait until the climate is warm and dry the plant. Continue treatment by cutting and destroying any branches that have been severed. Once the bonsai starts its new growth (usually near the end of winter), you can spray the bonsai with tar oil. Tar oil is a thick black substance, which is obtained from destructive distillation process and extracted from macrobiotic fluids. (E.g. coal or wood) Spray the tar oil with caution. Tar oil will destroy the female reproductive cells, or eggs. As the spring nears, use methodical acaricides and spray the bonsai. You will need to spray the bonsai again in the summer with distinctive acaricides. You should water your bonsai munificently in the summer and vapor the foliage methodically.

The deciduous trees will show signs of damage, such as hibernated eggs, which are often found on the branches. At the bark, you may notice red patches. During spring, the mites may leave holes in the leaves. You will find the mites predominantly at the underneath of the leaves. Mites and spiders often drop eggs on confers in cracks, especially at the bark. The eggs are also deposited at the foundation of the plant needles. Geometer moths leave trails on foliage. The pests will feast on foliage and leave perforations in the sprouts, or buds. Geometers will also leave silky web trails in the soil or at the foliage. To treat the problem sprays the bonsai at the last months of winter with oil-based solutions. The oils will obliterate the eggs. Once spring arrives, treat the plant with parathion-based solutions made by chemical processes, or use lindane

Patrick Carpen is the designer, writer and owner of the website http://bonsai.infobay.ws/Infobay.ws is a content based, consumer oriented website that provides high quality content on selected subjects. This website was created to help bonsai enthusiasts in their quest of growing bonsai plants.

Sunday, August 31, 2008

The fine art of Bonsai has been around in the Japanese and Chinese cultures for hundreds of years. Over the last half century it has become popular in the United States as well. It takes a long time to grow a bonsai tree, even though they are very small. The project needs care and patience, as well as some artistic ability. The bonsai must blend in with its container to create a visual portrait of a full grown tree.

Usually bonsai is a hardy tree that is forced to grow in a small pot. Some tropical plants such a a pomegranate have been used successfully as bonsai. Trees or plant with small foliage must be used or the leaves will look out of proportion. Outstanding bonsai have been made from zeikova, ginkgo and some pies and maples. Plants that would be considered unattractive in other situations, such as runty plants with twisted or gnarled trunks and branches are great candidates for bonsai. You can buy such plants in a nursery, or go on a hunt in the woods for them.

The bonsai pot is an integral part of the design. They can be as small as 2 inches wide, or as large as 25 inches. Some are baked clay, and others are glazed. They need to have drainage holes.

The soil for bonsai should be able to hold moisture. Most people start with a coarse layer of soil at the bottom and add fine humus rich soil at the top. Usually moss, or spreading plants such as helxine soleirolii is placed on top of the soil, or even small stones.

The root ball of the small tree should be completely cleaned of soil and the roots cut back drastically. This will keep the plant dwarfed. Cut back the top of the tree to balance with the roots and put it in the pot, packing the soil around the roots and tree firmly. To acclimate the tree, it should be watered well and placed in dappled shade for a few weeks. Then it can be moved to full sun. If you start your bonsai in the spring, you will have more success since the light gets stronger gradually.

As the plant grows yo will have to re pot it, probably once a year. So make sure you schedule this activity so that your plant is always in the best shape possible.

Creating a bonsai is an artistic endeavor, so there is not just one way to do it but many. Pruning and cutting out new growth to achieve the exact balance you want will take trial and error and a good eye for lines. You can force the plant to bend or look warped by wrapping it with wire and pulling the branches down.

If you are fascinated by the idea of creating a bonsai, you will find that it is fairly easy to do. The tradition has a certain air of mystique, but the process is not difficult, it just takes time and patience.

Article Directory: http://www.articlecube.comKurt Schefken is writing mainly for http://www.insidewoodworking.com , an online publication on the topic of woodworking machinery . You can come across his contributions on workbenches and tool storage on his site.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

WHEN YOUR BONSAI TREE ARRIVES WATER IMMEDIATELY AND PLACE IN A SUITABLE POSITION AFTER READING THE INSTRUCTIONS BELOW.

NOTE: Within 2 weeks of getting your bonsai tree it's quite normal that some of the leaves will turn yellow and fall, this happens as your bonsai tree acclimatises to its new surroundings.

Flick any yellowing leaves off and they will re-grow. DO NOT pluck them as this damages the new buds.

WATERING:

Fill a bowl or sink with tepid water. Immerse your bonsai tree so the water comes over the rim of the bonsai pot and covers the soil, and leave for five minutes. Place it on a draining board and allow the excess water to drain away.

You must not let your bonsai tree sit in water after draining.

If you follow this method your bonsai tree will get the required amount of water.

For best results we recommend using a humidity tray and mist spaying twice a day too.

Your bonsai tree should be watered approximately every other day, more often during the hottest summer months,

Remember the soil should be moist to the touch at all times, if wet don't water, NEVER let your bonsai tree DRY OUT.

POSITIONING:

Your bonsai tree needs plenty of natural light but NOT blazing midday sun as the leaves will burn and die.

If your bonsai tree grows large leaves on long light green leggy shoots it's not getting enough light. Any warm bright area will do,

Window sills may not be the best place due to the constant fluctuation in temperature, however if a window sill is the only place you can keep your bonsai tree, be sure to rotate it every week.

Once you have found a suitable place for your bonsai tree, leave it there so it can acclimatise itself with its new environment.

You will know its in the right place as it will flourish and grow many new shoots.

If its in the wrong place it will loose its leaves.

Indoor bonsai trees will benefit from being outside in a semi shaded area during the summer months.

FEEDING:

All bonsai trees need fertiliser to make up for the lack of nutrients normally available in the wild.

Either use a specially formulated bonsai feed or Phostrogen tomato feed.

We recommend that you feed once a week with half the recommended strength during summer and once a month during the winter.

Be sure to fertilise after watering and do not exceed the specified dose as over feeding will burn the roots and possibly kill your bonsai tree.

PRUNING:

Your bonsai tree needs pruning all year round, more so during summer.

Just cut off the long shoots to one or two leaves to maintain the shape of your bonsai tree.

For more info see our Video "Practical Guide to the Care of Indoor Bonsai Trees"

REPOTTING:

You may need to repot your bonsai tree every other year and should be done in early spring.

This is done to maintain fine fibourous healthy roots.

To do this tease your bonsai tree out of the bonsai pot and loosen about 1 third of the soil from the sides and underside of the root ball and trim away the long hanging roots. (Use a clean sharp pair of root cutters)

*Brown crispy leaves - Lack of water. (Follow watering instructions above) *Sticky leaves - Your Bonsai could have Aphids, whitefly or greenfly. Check the underside of leaves for both insects and eggs, to treat place the Bonsai outside and spray with a contact insecticide and be sure to cover both sides of the leaves.

Thursday, June 19, 2008

Feng shui is an ancient Chinese practice as old as Chinese culture itself (believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven and earth to help one improve life by receiving positive "spiritual energy" that is part of every living thing.

Feng shui literally means "wind and water," but this is merely shorthand for an environmental policy of "hindering the wind and hoarding the waters."

The elements, water, rain, wind, fog and sun were believed to be the energy of heaven and earth. Therefore Feng shui is frequently translated simply as "energy flow.

Most of today's feng shui schools teach that it is the practice of arranging objects (such as the placement of furniture) to help people achieve harmony with their environment.

By manipulating our position in our environment we can control the electro-magnetic energies that surround us

Taking all that into consideration, the origins of bonsai can also be found in the classical Chinese gardens over two thousand years ago.

These creations of carefully pruned trees and rocks are small-scale rendition of the natural landscape. Their artistic composition captures the spirit of nature and distinguishes them from potted plants. They are often referred to as living sculptures or as three-dimensional poetry.

Chinese gardens were created in the same way as a combination of landscape and paintings together with poems - this was the so-called "poetic garden."

The design of Chinese gardens was to provide a spiritual utopia for one to connect with nature, to come back to one's inner heart, to come back to ancient idealism Chinese gardens are a spiritual shelter for men, a place they could be far away from their real social lives, and close to the ancient way of life, their true selves, and nature.

By joining the two cultures, Feng shui and bonsai we can create a unique ancient corner of our garden or home to relax from the frustration and stress of our modern western world

The appeal of including bonsai into the Feng shui equation is that it offers something very practical and unique.

In other words, different trees work best with certain styles and can be placed in the position according to the energy flow of that location.

Each location and environment is different too for each bonsai, and have to be considered when choosing where to place you're Bonsai Tree.

Many garden plants have essential symbolism. Pine trees represent wisdom and bamboo represents strength and upright morality. Plum trees are also extremely valuable to the Chinese for their beautiful pink and white blooms during winter. By incorporating Feng Shui and bonsai in a corner of your garden or home you can create a special place to relax and live more harmoniously with nature The living bonsai will change from season to season and from year to ... and as time goes on it will become more and more beautiful. Enjoy

Saturday, June 7, 2008

Bonsai culture offers the greatest and most beautiful tree species on this planet. Since bonsai originate from asia, most likely from China and Japan, the most popular tree’s are originating from this region.

Doing bonsai elsewhere in the world can be tricky. If your climate doesn’t match the climate in Japan, you may not be able to grow successfully some of the most popular species. Your temperature range could be too cold in winter or too hot in summer. The best examples are the tropical species that cannot be grown year long in the northern climate unless you have the proper setup indoor or the winter could be too cold for hardy species.

Rest assure, nothing is lost. Many tree species originating from certain region or growing locally can be great substitute for a bonsai candidate. The most praised maple is without a doubt the trident maple. (Acer buergerianum) This specie is cold hardy to USDA zone 5 which is around minus 27 celsius. In Canada, the winters are getting harsher temperature. A great substitute would be the Amur maple (Acer Ginnala) which is cold hardy to USDA zone 2, minus 45 celsius. This species is a great replacement since it is very cold hardy, possesses small trilobed leaves and is a fast grower.

Other species liked from bonsai enthusiast are the Japanese pines. But, once again, cold can be a disadvantage. To the rescue comes the mugho pine. This pine will tolerate some very cold temperature plus it is a very tough plant tolerating many bonsai mistake. The mugho pine needles can be reduced much like the Japanese counterpart plus it displays a textured bark.

Another popular specie is the Chinese elm (ulmus parvifolia) but once again, cold is hard on this specie. For a replacement, the less known Siberian elm (ulmus pumila) can be as beautiful as the chinese one. Much like the Chinese elm, the Siberian elm as twiggy branching, grows fast and leaves are reducing well with proper technique.

Some others tree species are the American or tamarack larch (Larix Laricina) for an evergreen, the sargeant crabapple (malus sargentii) for a flowering and fruit producing tree or the European birch (betula pendula) for a broadleaf tree. These all displays beautiful characteristics. For instance, the American larch is the only evergreen to loose it’s needles when fall show itself, the needles will turn from green to yellow for a few weeks before shedding. The sargeant crabapple will give you some nice white to pink flowers in spring and produce red fruit in autumn. The European birch as a nice white paperish bark that peel itself easily. Plus all these are moderate to fast growing tree that would yield a nice bonsai in a few years.

About The Author

Patrick Desnoyers - Avid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of http://www.mishobonsai.com, a website with ressource for bonsai seeds and tree seeds.

Saturday, February 16, 2008

One of the popular broadleaf species for bonsai is the cotoneaster. This specie is praised for it’s small leaves, fruits and ramification which makes it a mame candidate. These preferred characteristics can also be accentuated by choosing a species of cotoneaster.

The cotoneaster multi-florus is by it’s name liked for having many flowers, from white to pink, but it is producing larger leaves then other cotoneaster.

The cotoneaster microphyllus, by it’s common name small leave cotoneaster, this one shows incredibly small leaves, which makes it the perfect tree for really small bonsai.

The most preferred bonsai candidate of cotoneaster is the cotoneaster horizontalis or commonly called rockspray cotoneaster. In all proportion this is the best choice, because it is a fast grower, small leaves, produce flowers early, and bear fruits at a young age.

Aesthetically, this one is a show stopper. In spring it displays wonderful colors with a mix of light and dark green for the foliage, white, pink and red for the flowers. As the growing season progress, leaves turn from a light green to a dark glossy green. In the meantime, the tree is preparing itself to support bright red fruit. In the colder climate, the cotoneaster loose it’s leaves but keep it’s fruit till early winter. The denuded tree with bright red fruit and white snow makes it a good subject for picture.

Cotoneaster can be propagated in many ways. The more common are by cuttings or by seeds. Growing a cotoneaster bonsai from seeds is easy compare to other species, because it is a fast growing tree and it’s ramifying itself at an early age. I prefer to grow from seeds rather then cuttings, because in a growing season, a sprouted seeds can attain the same girth as a cutting.

Germinating a cotoneaster seeds can be tricky. Fortunately, the most common used cotoneaster as bonsai, are producing seeds that necessitate boiling water to scarify the seeds, before germination, compare to some cotoneaster species that requires an acidic treatment to remove the protective coating. In nature, this treatment is accomplished in the stomach of the fruit eating animal that ingested a cotoneaster berrie.

About The Author

Patrick DesnoyersAvid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of http://www.mishobonsai.com , a website with ressource for bonsai seeds and tree seeds.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

If you are considering a Bonsai tree for that special person, there are a few things you should know to ensure that you end up with a nice healthy tree. First and foremost think about the conditions the tree will be in. Indoor Bonsai will generally need to be close to a window or be supplemented with artificial light. A small tray with gravel and a little bit of water under the tree will add humidity around the tree. It may not need to be watered every day but it should be checked daily as the small pots can dry out rather quickly.

Steps in bonsai care

Watering

Watering is the most important part in bonsai care. This is the crux of the art of bonsai. Most Bonsai tree that die are lost due to dehydration, either from lack of watering or from being kept in a low humidity environment (indoors) for too long. How often you should water is a common question people ask about bonsai trees. There is no hard and fast rule prescribed for the same. When the soil begins to dry out water your plant thoroughly until the excess water runs out of the bottom of the pot, signifying you're done. Remember, over-watering is as bad as under-watering, thus all the fuss about getting it just right.

Pots and soil

The soil you use affects rooting, feeding, watering and transpiration, it is where half your tree lives so this is the second biggest consideration in maintaining your bonsai. While the needs of individual species vary greatly a good rule of thumb is 30% grit, 70% humus for deciduous trees, and 70% grit with 30% humus for evergreen-needled plants. Bonsai trees should be fertilized with a water-soluble fertilizer once or twice per month during the growing season. However the choice of fertilizer may vary depending on the species you've chosen to miniaturize. Always apply fertilizer when the soil is wet. Bonsai trees are intentionally allowed to become root-bound in their containers, and the roots too, are pruned.

Pruning

A bonsai plant is pruned in two ways viz. branch pruning and root pruning. Pruning of branches is performed in spring. Much, but not all of the new growth is removed. Branches are selected early on as the only branches to be allowed to prosper, while the excess branches are mercilessly pruned off. The main factor in maintaining bonsai is the removal of all but the most important parts of the plant. Bonsai is all about the reduction of everything just to the essential elements. Also Bonsai trees are intentionally allowed to become root-bound in their containers, and the roots too, are pruned. But root-bound plants won't thrive forever in that condition and, indeed, bonsai trees must be re-potted every two or three years to furnish the roots with fresh soil.

Changing the shape of the tree

Bonsai tree wiring is an advanced skill to grow the bonsai into an art form. Desirable branches are wired to control the direction in which they grow. Wiring can do a great deal to change the shape of the plant, but it can also do a great deal of damage to the plant if done incorrectly.

To sum up

This may seem like a lot to do to just to buy a little tree, but it's no different than any other informed purchase, just as you wouldn't buy a fish without having a special home for it you should have a special home for your Bonsai tree.

About The Author

Rob Mellor owns www.lost-bonsai-secrets.com. This website helps people find out more about the bonsai tree. Please visit the site for more information on bonsai tree care

Monday, February 4, 2008

Miniature trees are originally rooted in the mountains of China, where only a specific species of plants and trees grow. Because of its hostile weather conditions, the trees were often stunted and contorted. The strong mountain winds also left these trees twisted in ice and the cold. Essentially, it is nature that has rendered the inspiration for the art of potting trees as students of the art do their best to mimic what nature has created. By “training” trees through specialized means of pruning and shaping them to a desired height and structure, these students of the art were able to recreate the sample nature has provided.

Bonsai, a Japanese term for “miniature potted trees”, actually originated from the Chinese. Called “pensai” in China, these miniature trees first appeared in artworks and poems in this Asian country in 200 B.C. Early own, the mini-tree, or rather, the work of art, has already become a symbol of harmony and tranquility. Chinese Monks and the nobles or upper class, who appreciated the beauty and significance of plants and trees or nature in general, cultivated mini-landscapes of mountains, rivers and little tree houses placed on big plates. Sometime in the 15th or 16th century, this artistic hobby grew among the people of Southeast China. Many of them have become master designers and experts of the art of tree potting. What was first known as a hobby for Chinese artists, monks and nobles in those days became a significant part of modern day Japanese tradition.

How this came to Japan was made possible through the officials of the Japanese government, who often come to China at the height of the Tang Dynasty and have brought the art back home. During the Kamakura period, while Zen Buddhism was introduced in Japan, these Zen masters also introduced the hobby of tree potting to its people. As a result, it became widely popular among the wealthy class (daimyos or feudal lords), the merchants and even the Samurais. In addition to this, daimyos even sought pottery masters on their employ, to make one of kind pots for their miniature plants.

Initially popular among the Japanese priests, the ruling class and those on the upper hierarchy, Bonsai eventually reached popularity with the middle class. As Japanese culture and their way of living dictates it, where the Japanese have always believed in keeping a harmonious relationship with their surroundings as beneficial, miniature gardening became one of Japan's favorite pastimes. The fact that these potted trees took up just a small space inside the house was also compatible with how the Japanese lived. It was during these times too, that the word “bonsai” was coined.

Today, the art of Bonsai is still practiced in China. It is characteristically different from the Japanese versions as they are somewhat bigger than the popular Japanese Bonsai. And while thinking of potted trees, one easily attributes this to Japan, the hobby/art form appeals not only to the people of the East today, but students and enthusiasts all over the world have also become devotees to the art of tree potting.

About The Author

Patrick Desnoyers

Avid full time hobby bonsai grower. As been practicing bonsai and gardening for more then 8 years. Owner of http://www.mishobonsai.com, a website with ressource for bonsai seeds and tree seeds.

Sunday, February 3, 2008

Many people think that growing bonsai is very hard but in actual fact, it is only hard if you do not have the correct knowledge and guidance, when you have those things, it is easy.

Here are five tips to help you grow better looking bonsai:

1) Choose the right pot. The pot you put your bonsai tree into is important as it needs to support the tree and also it can make a difference to how it looks. Take into consideration the size and shape of your tree when choosing a pot for it.

2) Remember that different seasons have different affects. Different times of the year will play a role in how your bonsai trees develop and grow, make sure you know what conditions require additional care.

3) Know in advance what outcome you would like for your trees.

Bonsai can be shaped and manipulated in order to appear differently and take on different shapes, you should know what way you would like your trees to look before growing them too large.

4) The display is everything. When you take the time and effort to grow a bonsai tree, you get a nice sense of satisfaction, however, that can be ruined be not giving your tree perfect placement in order to let it's beauty shine through.

There you are, four top tips to help you grow stunning bonsai trees.

Growing bonsai is not as hard as you may think, if you have the right information, you can grow them juts as easily as anyone else.

Start growing your own bonsai today!

How can you get started today?

Easy, research and find out exactly how to grow the bonsai tree of your dreams, get the materials you need to do it and start growing, once you get into it, you will find that it becomes very enjoyable and when you have your first plant, you will get a great feel of satisfaction.

About The Author

Niall Mehaffey is a bonsai enthusiast and runs a website that will show you exactly how you can grow stunningly beautiful bonsai trees, just like the experts do, check it out at http://www.BonsaiTreeCareInfo.com.